Popular Woodworking 2002-08 № 129, страница 59

The cabinets you choose for your shop can be premade kitchen cabinets, cabinets you make yourself, or cabinets designed for your woodworking needs, as shown in the photo. These cabinets offer simple drop-in platforms for a variety of benchtop tools, with slide-in/slide-out storage for easy access. Storage options include drawers and doors, depending on your needs. Each of the units is capable of easy dust collection hook-up for any benchtop tool, and one of the drop-in panels will allow the cabinet to function as a downdraft table. But don't forget the lowly pegboard for storing hand tools. It still provides the easiest, least expensive and most adjustable hanging storage around.

in handy drawers or on the wall), and quick access to clamps will make things easier as well.

Once assembly is complete, the third phase is finishing. No matter what finish you use, a clean, well-ventilated area is required.

When applying a varnish or shellac finish, the vapors given off as the finish dries are flammable and should be kept away from any ignition points, such as water heaters or space heaters. In concentrated exposure, the vapors can also be harmful to you, so ventilation is important. Also, when storing solvent-based finishes (such as varnishes) a fireproof storage cabinet is a must.

If you're going to use a spray-on finishing system, ventilation is even more critical to move the overspray away from your lungs.

From here, the rest of your shop will fall into place in the space left. Keep in mind that to save space, many tools can be stored under cabinets until needed.

Putting Things Away

While we've talked about where your lumber storage should be in

the work triangle, we haven't talked about how to store it.

There are three types of wood stored in a workshop: sheet goods (such as plywood), rough or full-size lumber, and shorts and scraps. Shorts and scraps are the pieces you can't bring yourself to throw away. Not only are there usually more of these pieces, but they're harder to store than plywood or rough lumber because of their odd shapes and sizes. Let's start with the easy stuff first.

Plywood takes up the least amount of space when stored standing on edge. Most of us aren't storing more than a few sheets of plywood, so this can often be stored in a 10"- to 12"-deep rack that can slip behind other storage or machinery. This keeps it out of the way but accessible.

Rough lumber is best stored flat and well-supported to keep the wood from warping. Keeping it up off the floor also keeps it away from any water that may get into your shop. A wall rack with a number of adjustable-height supports provides the easiest access while keeping the wood flat

and dry. See our "$30 Lumber Rack" in the April 2002 issue, which is available for sale at www.popularwoodworking.com.

Shorts are the hardest to store, but a rolling box with a number of smaller compartments holding the shorts upright allows easy access to the pieces, and it keeps them from falling against and on top of each other. For plans for a good bin (and 24 other shop projects), get a copy of the book "25 Essential Projects for Your Workshop" (published by Popular Woodworking Books).

Carrying on with the storage concept, one category that deserves special attention is finishing materials. While water-borne finishes are gaining in popularity, flammable finishes in cans, bottles and jars should be stored in a fireproof storage box and kept clean and organized at all times. A tall cabinet with lots of adjustable shelf space makes room for the many sizes of finishing supplies. For more details, see the "Flexner on Finishing" article on page 86 in this issue.

Other workshop storage needs

fall into the cabinet and shelving category. Just because there's a tool sitting on the floor against the wall doesn't mean you can't hang a cabinet or shelving above it. In fact, in many cases there are accessories and supplies you need near that tool that belong on a shelf right above it. And don't hesitate to go all the way to the ceiling with storage. Even though the top shelves are harder to get to, we all have things in our shops that don't get used very often.

Many of us have purchased a tool that had a base tossed in to sweeten the deal. It seems like a good idea, but if you stop and think about it, it's truly wasted space. Throw away that stamped-steel base and build a storage cabinet to go underneath the tool.

When choosing base storage cabinets, you'll have to decide whether you need drawer cabinets, door cabinets or both. If you're storing large, odd-shaped items (belt sanders, arc welders) a drawer can be a real problem. They're designed to fit only so much. A door cabinet is a better place to store bulky items.

58 Popular Woodworking August 2002